Defining Process Modes

Defining device process modes allows you to specify what types of data sets you can schedule to that device. If a user specifies a data set process mode (specified on the OUTPUT JCL statement) that matches one of the process modes defined for a device, then JES3 can schedule that data set to the device. To define process modes for a device, specify the PM= keyword on the DEVICE initialization statement. You can specify as many as eight process modes per device. Unless you modify the list of process modes or the operating mode of the device using operator commands, the process modes that you define in your initialization stream remain in effect.

You can also define alternate process modes for some devices.
Note: You can define alternate process modes for certain devices, such as the 3800 Model 3 printer, that may run under the control of an output writer in the JES3 global address space or under the control of an output writer functional subsystem.
These process modes become effective only when you change the device operating mode (using an operator command) from what was originally defined (or defaulted to) on the MODE= keyword of the DEVICE statement. In other words, you can switch between the initial set of process modes and an alternate set.
Note: You can switch between sets of process modes using the *MODIFY,FSS,D= command.
To define alternate process modes for a device, specify the ALTPM= keyword on the DEVICE statement. You can specify as many as eight alternate process modes for a device.
Two values frequently defined on the PM= and ALTPM= keywords are LINE and PAGE. Specifying PM=LINE indicates that data sets assigned a process mode of ‘line’ in their JCL can be scheduled to this device. Under normal circumstances, these are line mode data sets, meaning that they are formatted line by line. Specifying PM=PAGE indicates that data sets assigned a process mode of ‘page’ in their JCL can be scheduled to this device. Again, these data sets normally are page mode data sets, meaning those formatted as a composed page.
Note: If PM=(PAGE,...) is specified for a device that does not support composed page formatting, or ‘all-points-addressable’ function as it is sometimes called, that device will select and attempt to print page mode data sets with unpredictable results. Line mode data is printed normally.